Means for increasing the acoustic qualities of violins



June 7, 1932. Q BONEWlTZ 1,861,682

MEANS FOR INCREASING THE ACOUSTIC QUALITIES OF VIOLINS Filed Dec. 31, 1951 F .2 INVENTOR, "5

4A ATTORNEY Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES CLARENCE BONEWITZ, OF DAYTON, OHIO MEANS FOR INCREASING THE ACOUSTIC QUALI'IIES OF VIOLINS Application filed December 31, 1931.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for increasing the acoustic qualities of violins.

It is one of the principal objects of my invention to provide under the bridge of a violin, a vibratory hollow rib beneath the A and D strings to materially improve the tonal and vibratory qualities of the instrument.

It is another important object of my invention to provide an improved violin structure that will produce and sustain for a long period the pick notes of a violin.

It is well known to those versed in the art, that, when a bow is drawn across the strings of a conventional violin, 1t must be maintained at a considerable distance from the bridge, otherwise screeching tones will be emitted. This is true in all instruments except very old violins. However, on a violin containing my improved rib construction, the bow may be drawn across the strings in close proximity with the bridge without emitting distorted tones.

My improved violin structure containing the hollow rib, produces a marked improvement in the tone from the A and D strings, and more particularly when producing a long drawn out note with a single slow movement of the bow.

Other important and incidental objects of my invention will be brought out in the following specification disclosing my invention and the claims subjoined thereto.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a top view of a violin equipped with my vibratory hollow rib. Figure 2 is a side view of a violin provided with my vibratory hollow rib. And Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, through the waist of a violin showing my improved vibratory hollow rib in section.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, for a detailed description of my invention, the numeral 1 indicates a conventional violin having the usual case 2, to one end of which is attached the neck 3. The latter has integral with its outer narrow end a conven- Serial No. 584,073.

tional scroll 4; and a peg box 5 in which pegs 6 for the instrument strings are mounted in the ordinary manner.

A finger piece 7, which is attached to the top face of the neck 3, extends well over the case 2 to the waist 8 of the instrument. The case 2 has the usual tail piece 9 from which strings 10 project over a bridge 11 and the finger piece 7 to the pegs 6 for tension adj ustment.

The case 1 is constructed in the usual manner and has a back 13, sides 14 and a belly 15. From the finger piece 7 to the tail piece 9, the belly'15 is provided beneath the A and D strings, with a longitudinal opening 16 that receives therein an inverted vibratory hollow rib 17 of spruce with its grain perpendicular to the face of the violin. As shown at Figure 3, the rib is of channel shape in cross section and has the lower edges of its side flanges 1818 securely glued to the belly 15 flush with its inside face. The outer face of the rib where it projects above the surface of the belly 15, is convex, tapering to the face of the belly at its upper and lower ends 19 and 20 as shown at Figures 2 and 3.

The bridge 11 has its lower face provided with a cut out 21 to straddle the rib 17 without contacting the later, so that all vibrationsgfltlzhe bridge are transmitted directly to the Now, when a note is played on the A or D string it will cause the side flanges 1818 of the rib to vibrate laterally, thus permittingagreater and freervibration of the case at the lower frequency of the A and D strings than would be possible in a solid top construction. Furthermore, the greater amplification due to the resonant qualities of the combined hollow rib and belly construction will produce more pleasing and sus tained notes from these strings.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a violin comprising a case having a top, strings stretched over the latter, said top formed with a longitudinal opening in its waist portion, beneath the strings, an inverted vibratory channel rib secured in said opening, and a bridge piece for the strin "s, having a recessed middle portion to strad le the rib whose sides are free to yield in response to the vibrations of the strings.

2. In a violin comprising a case having a top, a neck attached to one end of the case, a 6 finger piece mounted upon the neck and projecting over the case to its waist line, a tail iece secured to the rear end of the case, a peg ox at the outer end of the neck, strings secured between the peg box and the tail piece, 10 said top formed beneath the middle strings with an opening extending from the finger piece to the tail piece, an inverted vibratory channel rib secured in said opening, and a bridge piece beneath the strings, having a recessed portion to straddle the rib whose sides are free to yield in response to the vibration of the strings.

3. In a violin comprising a case having a top, a neck attached to one end of the case, a $10 finger piece mounted upon the neck and projecting over the case to its waist line, a tail piece secured to the rear end of the case, a peg box at the other end of the neck, strings secured between the peg box and tail piece, said top formed beneath the middle strings With an opening extending from the finger piece to the tail piece, an. inverted Vibratory channel rib secured in said opening, the outer face of said rib being convex, to raise it above the top of the case and to cause it to taper to the surface of said top at its upper and lower ends, and a bridge piece beneath the strings, having a recessed portion to straddle the middle portion of the rib whose sides are free to yield, particularly in response to the vibration of the middle strings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of December, 1931.

CLARENCE BONEWITZ. 

